***NEWS RELEASE***
Shares Are 6% Lower Last Month for Samaritan Ministries’ Health Care Sharing Members, While Premiums Increase Under the Affordable Care Act
Nancy from South Carolina Says Health Care Sharing ‘Makes Life So Much Easier to Know That We Don’t Have to be Controlled by Insurance or Government Mandates’
PEORIA, Ill.— Monthly share amounts were 6 percent lower in July for members of Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org), one of the leading health care sharing ministries in America. This means that a family of five gave a monthly share of about $465 last month rather than the normal $495.
At the very same time, residents in five states—Idaho, Iowa, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming—learned that their premiums under Affordable Care Act plans may climb 30 percent or more in 2018, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal.
Besides saving money, each month the more than 69,000 Samaritan member households (228,000-plus individuals) have the liberating opportunity to apply principles of New Testament living to 21st-century health care through Samaritan’s direct, household-to-household, non-insurance approach, where they can also pray for other members and send notes of encouragement. In this simple way, these members apply Biblical principles to support a community of fellow believers.
“Samaritan is sometimes blessed to be able to offer our members a decreased monthly share based on the number of qualified needs for that month,” said Anthony Hopp, Samaritan Ministries’ vice president of external relations. “And when that happens, our members are not only very pleasantly surprised, but they then are free to use the money they save in another way, perhaps blessing others by contributing to other Samaritan members’ Special Prayer Needs, or by giving to another ministry about which they feel passionate. In a world of increasing premiums and rising health care costs, a surprise savings like the one members enjoyed last month is virtually unheard of.”
Ben, a Samaritan member in Idaho, where many others will see huge premium increases this year, summed up his experience with Samaritan in just a few words:
“Unbelievable program. Been here since 2002—5 kids, 4 surgeries later.”
Nancy, a Samaritan member in South Carolina, another state where double-digit premium increases may hit, said that she joined Samaritan about 2½ years ago. Since then, she has gone through two back surgeries, and her husband has experienced some medical issues as well.
“(Samaritan members) have been amazing to help us financially, and it just makes life so much easier to know that we don’t have to be controlled by insurance or government mandates,” she said.
Marian in neighboring North Carolina shared a similar sentiment.
“Faced with the insanity of insurance premiums that exceeded my salary, I joined Samaritan Ministries several years ago,” she said. “I have not had to submit a need but have been blessed to help others each month with my share, and still have enough left for housing and food. Samaritan Ministries was an answer to prayer.”
Every month, these members and others like them give generously to their fellow members who have qualified medical needs. Currently, this Biblical community shares approximately $25 million each month in medical needs, while giving a monthly share of only $495 (or less) for a family of any size. Individuals give $220 and couples give $440 (or less), and shares for members under the age of 26 are even lower.
Learn more about Samaritan Ministries International here; visit the Samaritan website at www.samaritanministries.org, or follow the ministry on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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